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Changes in Biological Communities
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Species of Concern
Anthropogenic and climate change impacts the ability of threatened and endangered species to rebound. Development creates habitat fragmentation which often leads to insufficient habitat space and connectivity to support the multiple life stages of individual species. Individual species are also affected by visitor use impacts on breeding and foraging habitats. Reserves manage and restore habitat to support species of concern by restoring degraded habitat, enhancing habitat connectivity to support multiple life stages of particular species, managing visitor use pressure during critical life stages and restoring species and habitats such as native oysters and sea grass beds where possible.
Stewardship Stories
- Nest Protection Efforts of Least Tern and Wilson's Plover in ACE Basin, Ace Basin Reserve, SC
- Pine Barrens Management, Narragansett Bay Reserve, RI
- Clapper Rail Rallus longirostris Distribution in the North Inlet Estuary, North Inlet- Winyah Bay Reserve, SC
- Restoration of Native Olympia Oysters within the South Slough Estuary, South Slough Reserve, OR
- Beginning life in the beginning of rivers: juvenile salmon in headwater streams of the lower Kenai Peninsula, Kachemak Bay Reserve, AK
Nest Protection Efforts of Least Tern and Wilson's Plover in ACE Basin
| Reserves: |
Ace Basin Reserve, SC |
| Time Period: |
Summer 2008 |
| Partners: |
South Carolina Department of Natural Resources, Harbor Island Property Owners Association |
| Primary Issues: |
Special Status Species Management |
| Strategies: |
Protect, restore, manage |
| Abstract: |
Two new beach nesting sites for Least Terns and Wilson Plovers ( both species threatened and species of concern status in South Carolina) were documented in the ACE Basin (Harbor Island and Botany Bay Plantation). The main threat to these species in South Carolina and in the ACE has been loss of nesting habitat due to encroachment by people and their pets. Areas were cordoned off utilizing educational signage asking public to "help" the birds by maintaining distance from colony. Both efforts have been considered a success as chicks have been documented in this new site and encroachment (human/ pet) into nesting sites has not been observed. |
| Submitted by: |
Al Segars |
Pine Barrens Management
| Reserves: |
Narragansett Bay Reserve, RI |
| Time Period: |
Jan. 2006 - ongoing |
| Partners: |
Natural Resources Conservation Service, RIDEM Div. of Fish & Wildlife, RIDEM Div. of Forest Environment, Prudence Island Volunteer Fire Department, Woodcutting Stewards (local landowner volunteers) |
| Primary Issues: |
Special Status Species Management |
| Strategies: |
Manage |
| Abstract: |
Atlantic coastal pine barrens are locally and regional rare habitat mosaics that are dependent on regular disturbance, particularly fire, to prevent progressive successional change. This habitat type supports a diversity of locally rare flora and fauna. Although management efforts have occurred at irregular intervals in the past, NBNERR has recently adopted a formal management plan and developed a set of goals designed to protect and maintain the unique ecological functions of these mosaics; specifically, to maintain habitat structure and diversity, remove invasive species, promote regrowth of representative understories, protect dependent species, and provide access for research and education. Management strategies employed to support these goals include: prescribed burns; selective and clear cutting to open the canopy, remove non-native tree species, and prevent displacement of pitch pine by hardwood species; and, harrow to expand habitat for tiger beetles dependent on barren mineral soils. Due to budget shortfalls, limited equipment access, and a small staff, the NBNERR is dependent upon its partners and volunteer effort to implement all components of their pine barrens management plan. Recent management activities have successfully created open grassland, enhanced understory growth, promoted the regeneration of pitch pine, and removed acres of non-native European larch. |
| Submitted by: |
Robin Weber |
Clapper Rail Rallus longirostris Distribution in the North Inlet Estuary
| Reserves: |
North Inlet- Winyah Bay Reserve, SC |
| Time Period: |
2008 to indefinite |
| Primary Issues: |
Species Management |
| Strategies: |
Protect |
| Abstract: |
The distribution of the Clapper rail, Rallus longirostrus, in the marshes of North Inlet will be determined following a standardized call-response procedure developed by the U.S. Geological Survey. Surveys will be conducted during spring nesting seasons at sunrise and sunset from fixed survey points in North Inlet. Densities will be determined by a 5-minute passive listening period followed by a 1-minute call broadcast of pre-recorded vocalizations. This information will be used to estimate Clapper rail population size, to examine distribution patterns in relation to habitat types, and to determine the effect of tidal period on vocalizations. Data from this study will be entered into a database established by the USGS to help estimate nationwide population trends. |
| Submitted by: |
Jennifer Spicer |
Restoration of Native Olympia Oysters within the South Slough Estuary
| Reserves: |
South Slough Reserve, OR |
| Time Period: |
July 2006 - June 2009 |
| Partners: |
The Nature Conservancy of Oregon |
| Primary Issues: |
Special Status Species Management |
| Strategies: |
Protect, restore |
| Abstract: |
The overall purpose of this project is to investigate the potential to restore self-sustaining populations of Olympia oyster (Ostrea conchaphila) in the South Slough estuary. Olympia oysters are listed as a threatened Candidate Species in the state of Washington, and as a federal Species of Concern in both Canada and the United States. The project area is currently a mixed sand and mud intertidal/subtidal portion of the Coos Bay estuary. It is expected that the restoration of previously abundant Olympia oyster populations will enhance ecological diversity and function for the benefit of many other estuarine species within the project area. Associated species with the potential to benefit from this project include a diverse array of marine invertebrates, Pacific salmon, steelhead and cutthroat trout, herring, Dungeness and red rock crabs, anchovies, surf perch, shine perch, juvenile rockfish, starry flounder, sculpin, greater scaups, and scoters. Our primary goal is to determine the suite of intrinsic and ecological factors that will contribute to the success of Olympia oyster restoration efforts in the South Slough. To determine the genetic identity of the existing Olympia oysters that currently inhabit the Coos estuary, we collected oyster tissues from several locations throughout the polyhaline region of the estuary and sent them to the Oregon State University / Molluscan Broodstock Program and the US Department of Agriculture / Shellfish Genetics Program for analysis. These project collaborators established the distinctive genetic signature for the local Coos Bay oysters that will be assessed for survivorship, growth and reproduction rates over a 12 month period alongside Olympia oysters obtained from Willapa Bay, WA. This comparison will ultimately provide guidance regarding the choice of broodstock oysters for our subsequent restoration efforts. |
| Submitted by: |
Hans Klausner |
Beginning life in the beginning of rivers: juvenile salmon in headwater streams of the lower Kenai Peninsula
| Reserves: |
Kachemak Bay NERR, AK |
| Time Period: |
2006 - Present |
| Partners: |
Baylor University, Waco, TX; Smithsonian Environmental Research Center |
| Primary Issues: |
Conservation of salmon Habitat in Headwater Streams |
| Strategies: |
Monitoring and mapping |
| Abstract: |
Headwater Stream Project: The goal of this project is to populate the Kenai Lowlands Wetland Management Tool with data on salmonid fish and aquatic invertebrate habitat support functions provided by low-order stream riparian wetlands. Providing attributes on wetland function information will substantially increase the usefulness of the Wetland Management Tool for regulatory and conservation planning needs by providing managers, regulators, and property owners with specific information on how wetlands function in the landscape.
Headwater streams represent a large proportion of the river channel networks, and provide habitat for many juvenile salmonids on the lower Kenai Peninsula. Headwaters environments are highly connected and sensitive to nearby terrestrial systems and atmospheric conditions, making them susceptible to anthropogenic disturbances and climate changes. The growing body of information linking headwaters to the health of river systems, prompted us to investigate relationships between landscape settings, and headwater stream characteristics in thirty streams representing different geomorphic settings across the five major drainages of the lower Kenai Peninsula. Stream reaches were sampled in the field for abiotic and habitat characteristics, macroinvertebrate and fish assemblages, and characterization of riparian plant communities. Thirty-seven landscape metrics were calculated using GIS software for each stream segment sampled. Data was analyzed using a combination of Principal Component Analysis (PCA), non-metric multidimensional scaling (nMDS), multiple regression and regression tree analysis (RTA). Results of the PCA showed strong correlations between topography and wetland geomorphic setting, and between topography and in-stream abiotic and habitat characteristics. Regression analysis revealed a topographic-wetness index (a measure of the hydrologic condition that is based on upstream drainage area and slope) that had a strong correlations between stream water chemistry variables; hydrology and stream substrates. Streams with a low topographic-wetness index (higher gradient, low wetness) had higher velocities, dissolved oxygen, and nitrite-nitrate N, lower temperatures, more woody debris and more gravelly substrates. Higher topographic-wetness index streams (lower gradient, high wetness) had lower velocities, higher dissolved organic carbon, higher temperatures and more peat dominated substrates. Macroinvertebrate assemblages varied with the topographic index as did the fish assemblage. Sites with a low topographic index supported higher densities of small salmonids; and higher topographic index streams supported fewer larger fish. These results make it possible to model headwater stream characteristics across the landscape, predicting fish community structure. This information could provide an important baseline for conservation strategies and monitoring change. |
| Submitted by: |
Coowe Walker |
Last Updated on: Thursday, November 19, 2009
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